Best Kitchen Faucet Reviews 2018

Picking out that new kitchen faucet is one of the more exciting upgrades you can make (we highly recommend that you check out the Delta Faucet 9178-AR-DST). Whether your sink is old and crusted over, leaking from all sorts of places or you just want to personalize things within your cooking area there’s something out there for everyone. While you could leave it to chance and budget, it’s probably a better idea to do just a little bit of research before you make the dive to something which will be in your home for years to come.

Bestoverallpick!

Best overall: Delta Faucet 9178-AR-DST

For a long lasting, stylish faucet this is the best option you’ll find for anywhere near the same price point. If you’re tempted to buy the touch option, however, you may want to check out our Best Overall Faucet.

1. Best for Longevity

Delta Faucet 9178-AR-DST

Product Rating5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

If you want a fixture that’s going to last, then this Delta faucet is exactly what you’re looking for. It definitely costs a bit more than some of the completion, but the unique lock for the pull down sprayer will keep things from ever getting loose and the build quality is impeccable.

The magnetic locking pull down is undoubtedly the primary feature of interest to most consumers. Rather than relying on the usual mechanisms involving gaskets or simply being held in by cable tension, both of which can fail over time, the magnets hold the head securely in place and allow you a full 360° of motion when you’ve pulled it.

It’s made for installation with a single hole but using the base plate you can sufficiently cover most standard three-hole arrangements without a problem.

The only issue seems to be the fact that the hose can become prone to binding over time which will prevent it from retracting easily. This is easily solved by using a silicon based lubricant over the length of the hose, and should keep things smooth for the faucet’s lifetime.

Pros and Cons

Magnetic locking mechanism will outlast the sink

Smooth retraction on the pull down

Stylish aesthetic in three colors

Easy to install

Retractable hose may need lubrication

Requires adapter for water softeners or alkalizers

2. Best for Tight Budgets

Everflow 17188 Kitchen Faucet

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

The Everflow 17188 is a great three hole faucet without any extra frills. Instead, it’s offered at a super reasonable price and has exactly what’s needed for you to get going quickly and easily.

There’s not much to knock on this sink, it’s extremely basic and will make the water flow without any issues. It has the standard two handles as well, which is something kind of hard to find in a modern sink although there are higher quality options available if that’s your poison.

For those who just need a simple, down-to-earth faucet without any fancy gadgets or a high price tag you’re looking at one of the best options on the market.

Pros and Cons

Vintage look

Simple 3-hole install

High quality gaskets

Budget priced

No accessories come standard

No color options

3. Best Value for Your Dollar

VCCUCINE Stainless Steel Single Handle

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

This simple faucet is made to fit into a one or three-hole configuration and comes with a standard pull down sprayer and a lever handle. It’s not the most prettiest faucet on the face of the Earth, but it makes up for it by giving you a whole lot for a minimal investment.

The sprayer has two settings, for both a light rinse and a concentrated stream. It lacks any aeration, so the water may not seem to be flowing as fast as your old faucet depending on what you previously owned, but you won’t have any issues with water pressure here.

Apart from the slightly subpar aesthetic there’s a lot to recommend here and it’s definitely priced way below it’s worth. It’s also a bear to install, so be prepared for a fight. Thankfully, you’ll only have to do that once.

This sink offers a pretty impressive amount of value for its low cost, but be prepared to spend a considerable amount of time getting it in.

Pros and Cons

Stainless steel look

Pull down sprayer

Excellent price to value ratio

Base comes with it for 3 hole sinks

Hard to install

Pull down cable is loud

4. Best for Vintage Look

Westbrass WAS01-20

Product Rating4 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

This charming little faucet may lack many of the modern stylings which have become so common, but it makes up for it with a special vintage look and high build-quality. It also comes with a sprayer for four hole set ups.

It’s extremely easy to install and the sprayer works excellently. This isn’t plated plastic, it’s a fully metal fixture which is sure to last a long time. Choose it carefully unless you’re willing to replace a fully functional faucet in the near-future.

Of course, there are some problems. One of the main advantages of modern styling comes with how far the head reaches into the sink, but this can be made up for with the sprayer. You’ll also find it only comes with a brushed stainless steel set-up, which can be something of a drag depending on your sink’s color.

For a rustic look and quality fixture, however, there’s nothing worth mentioning at anywhere near the same price point.

Pros and Cons

Full metal

Included sprayer

Easy installation

Long lasting quality

Doesn’t reach super far into the sink

Only one color variation

5. Best Motionsense Touchless Faucet

Moen Arbor

Product Rating5 /5

Reviewed by: Max Perzon

If you want all of the bells-and-whistes with no corners cut, the Moen Arbor Motionsense Touchless faucet is absolutely astounding.

It has a smooth pull down head to allow you to get water anywhere you need it, along with a durable locking mechanism. The main draw, of course, is the touchless activation. You simply need to pass your hand over the top and you’ll be rewarded with an instantaneous flow of water.

This is extremely handy when you’re working with dirty food or have your hands covered in suds. It’s also extremely easy to install, making for the best end user experience possible.

If you’re looking for the absolute best faucet you can find, bar none, give this faucet from Moen Arbor a serious look. It’s well worth the high cost.

Pros and Cons

Touchless activation

High-quality construction

Super easy install with quick connects

Smooth pull down head

Expensive

Requires 6 AA batteries

When Is It Time to Change Out the Kitchen Faucet

If you’re not just getting ready for an aesthetic upgrade, then you’ll want to look into making sure that you’re changing things out at the right time.

For the most part, people wait far too long to change their kitchen faucet out. Instead of being proactive, many people wait until it’s been dripping, leaking, and corroding for long enough that there’s already a serious problem.

If you’re in that boat, then it’s time to switch.

Early warning signs can include leaking around the handles or faucet base, visible corrosion, or a “finicky” drip pattern where the faucet doesn’t turn off cleanly when the handles are moved.

If you’re suffering from any of the above, it may be time to start looking into replacing your faucet.

Making Sure You Have the Right Kitchen Faucet

While it would be lovely if it were possible to go out and simply pick the one that we found pleased the eye the most, instead you’ll need to do a little bit of investigative work to make sure that you end up with a faucet that will fit your sink.

The simple fact is, most of us don’t want to start taking a drill to the sink. The potential for catastrophe goes up dramatically once you get to that level and replacing a sink will make the whole thing a lot more costly.

Of course, if you’re replacing things wholesale then you’ll have a lot more leeway when it comes time to choose.

You’ll want to open up the cabinet beneath your sink and take a look at the base of the faucet to figure out which is best for you.

Most faucets have between one and four holes going up to them, depending on the amount of accessories you’ve got sitting there. Count these out to make sure that the item you’re considering is going to fit with minimal effort.

You’ll also want to see if your faucet is wideset or not, which can make a big difference in just how it fits into things. Just measure the distance between the holes if you’re uncertain. In most cases these will be pretty standardized, but if you’re working with a super old model you might have a bit more trouble.

It can also be a good idea to make sure the footprint of your new faucet will fit cleanly, or you’ll have some extra scrubbing to do when it comes time to replace things.

Picking Your Ideal Kitchen Faucet

Kitchen faucets are often a little bit more complex than those you’ll find in the bathroom. The accessories that can come with them are more varied since you’ll also be doing the dishes in addition to running the water in many cases.

Faucet Types

Most modern faucets will come with a couple of ways to cover up any “extra” holes that you might have if you’re going to move to a simpler water dispenser. You’ll want to check on this if you do decide to go with a different faucet type.

Ball faucets are simple

but prone to problems. These are the faucets you’ll see with a lever in the back which is raised to allow water to come through and angled in order to control the hot/cold water flow.

They’re simple to install and use but over time they become much more prone to leaking and other issues than similar faucet types. Look for one with a metal ball valve if you’re interested in maintaining the longevity of your new fixture.

Disc faucets

use a pair of ceramic discs to control the flow of water. They tend to be extremely long lasting and nearly maintenance free due to their nature but the price point tends to climb a little bit if you think that they’re worthy of your investment.

Cartridge faucets

use o-rings inside a cartridge to control water flow. They’re very reliable and long lasting, especially if the homeowner using one is willing to keep up on maintenance over the long term.

For the most part, which type you go with will be determined by your budget and how long you’re willing to go with the same fixture gracing the kitchen sink.

The Aesthetics

Other than the type of faucet you’re looking for, and the accessories your sink is equipped to handle, the way a sink looks is quite often at the top of people’s minds.

There are a ton of different styles and finishes but as long as you purchased a quality item in the first place they really don’t matter to the function. If you do decide to go super cheap, more complex aesthetics will lead to more problems with cleaning and maintenance but it’s pretty rare for someone to install something with that many issues.

General Tips for Replacing Your Kitchen Faucet

Replacing your kitchen faucet isn’t nearly as complex as it might seem. After you turn off the water, in most cases, you’ll easily be able to get things disconnected, remove the old faucet, and replace it with the new one.

You’ll want to keep the following in mind, however:

Take a picture of the plumbing underneath the sink before you start removing things. It’ll help if you get lost over time.

Make sure the water is completely turned off before you remove the hoses leading to the inlet, otherwise you’re in for a serious mess.

Be careful not to cross thread anything, particularly with plastic threads, or you’ve just created a much larger problem for yourself.

Conclusion

If you keep the above in mind and keep track of the instructions that come with the fixture, you’re going to be in good hands and you’ll have the new one up and running in no time.